Thursday, February 6, 1975
3
Universitt Daily Kansan
Area gay group no longer political
By JAN HYATT
Kansan Staff Reporter
Lawrence Gay Liberation, Inc., whose parent organization once brought a lawsuit against the University of Kansas, now spends its time and resources on expanded programs and services for the local gay community.
Weekly meetings examining various topics, providing speakers for classes and groups, publication of a newsletter and a new quarterly journal, presentation of a reader's theatre, counseling, dances and parties are among the activities of the group. Next few months, according to Dick Peterson, John Stillwell coordinator of the group
The last time most people heard anything about the Lawrence gays was in 1972 when the Gay Liberation Front, the parent organization, sued the University for refusing to grant it recognition as a student organization.
The front lost its suit, but later that year, the student status as a registered University organization.
THE FRONT INCORPORATED and
the firm offers a self-
supportive, nonprofit organization.
The front also was granted all the privileges of a recognized organization, such as office space and use of rooms in the building. In exchange, receive money from the Student Senate.
Income from gay lib dances, which have become popular social events for both straights and gays, and private contributions have made the group one of the wealthiest organizations at KU, Perrin said Wednesday.
About 650 attended the gay lib dance in the Union Ballroom two weeks ago, he said, and dances in the past have drawn up to 900. A sound financial base has decreased the group's desire to try again for recognition from the administration.
"Recognition isn't advantageous for us now," Stillwell said.
Attendance at Monday night meetings sponsored by the group has grown this year, Perrin said. About 30 attended the last meeting which featured a woman speaking on rape.
MOST OF THOSE associated with the group are KU students, but a few gay Lawrence residents participate in activities from time to time. Perrin said,
Richard Linker, education coordinator of the group, said expanded communication with the general Lawrence community was not enough to the organization that hadn't been reached.
"We get invited to speak to KU classes,
Icy streets slow traffic
No major automobile accidents or injuries were reported to Lawrence police after a Tuesday night cold snap caused benders caused over $5,000 in damage.
Motorists generally maintained small-like speeds on ice roads. Although major arteries weren't completely clean of ice by Wednesday night, sand trucks from the Lawrence city maintenance department managed to spread sand on most streets.
Paul Shultz, a dispatcher for security and parking, said 12h, 13th and 14th streets were closed on the east side of the campus and all other campus roads were open.
$1.99
RAMADA INN
Dinner
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but there seldom is an invitation from any community group except by a radio show or video conference.
A Free University course, "Gay Sex Awareness," will be conducted this spring by the group as part of its educational services, Perrin said.
After the political and legal activities surrounding the fight for recognition died down, the socializing services provided by these organizations more important, the coordinators said.
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Veal Parmigiana
FRIDAY
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"THERE SEEMS TO BE a fairly cohesive social life now, but this has been to the detriment of our political development," Linker said. "There's no ongoing political discussion or viewpoint within the organization now."
Social activities are planned by David Speakman, social committee coordinator. They include dances, private parties, and social hour after the Monday meetings.
GAYS FACE BEING CALLED sick by doctors and psychiatrists, and immoral by their behavior is expected to confront the image of the limp-wristed, overly definite gay whose personal life is built on relationships started in bars or public restrooms.
Stillwell said he thought the decline in gays' interest in political concerns was part of a general political apathy among all students.
Sometimes, though, the efferinate behavior will become a defense mechanism and a habit, and it tends to reinforce self-interest. For example, a gay person might be hiding, Perris said.
Perrin said much of the "camp" behavior of gays was an imitation of the stereotyped behavior they used as a device to scorn heterosexuals.
Membership only
$1.00
'It's unfashionable now. Political action seems so awful or so useless to manly
Stillwell said gay political and intellectual development would be the objectives of the journal that the group would begin publishing this soring.
"Wheat Dreams," the title of the journal, will be a publication for all those who believe that Marx and Buddha are kissing cousins. Stillwell said.
people now," he said.
IT WILL INCLUDE fiction, graphics,
essays contributed by gay
people, his satire.
The group began a counseling service for gay men and women two years ago. The counselors provide support for gays who have just decided to "come out" and not hide their gayness from their families, friends and teachers. Perrin said,
Some gay people have a hard time changing the values they grew up with and adjusting to values that better fit their new way of life. Perrin said.
Counselors also deal with gay men's problems in dealing with the stereotype of homosexual men that the heterosexual society has formed. Perrin said.
Most counseling deals with problems with meeting people and with handling social situations in both homosexual and heterosexual atmospheres, he said.
For example, he said, some gays accuse other gays of being promiscuous. The accusations have been popularized.
concept from the gay community.
Would you want your sister to go out with this?
PEACE CORPS/VISTA RECRUITERS ON CAMPUS February 17-19
Volunteers receive transportation, health care plus living allowance and money in the bank. Stop by the Union or sign up for an interview at your Placement Office.
A monthly newsletter for classified
Kansas will be published with the set.
There is a faculty publication along these lines, Sutton, Sutton, but many of its
The four-page newsletter is designed to improve communications between the administration and the employee, Susan K. editor of the newsletter, said Monday.
KU employes get newsletter
Classified personnel primarily are nonfaculty members.
An endowment fund, established winn instructions that it be used to improve communications within the University, will be used to fund the newsletter, which will be edited and published by the Office of Labor Relations. The Office of Labor Relations was asked to publish the paper by Del Lefkowitz, executive vice chairman, Sutton said.
articles don't apply to or interest the classified employee.
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